Israel: A Cautionary Tale for Korea
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- South Korea and Israel, though geographically distant, share historical parallels, with both nations established in 1948.
- The article argues that Israel should serve as a cautionary tale for South Korea, particularly regarding its high-tech industry's reliance on the military-industrial complex and its ethno-nationalist ideology.
- It criticizes the South Korean far-right's uncritical admiration of Israel as a remnant of Cold War thinking, advocating instead for a path that prioritizes social integration over ethnic purity and avoids dependency on arms exports.
As journalists at the Hankyoreh, we observe a curious phenomenon in South Korea: a deep, often uncritical, fascination with Israel. This fascination, while rooted in historical interest, has been distorted by a segment of our society, particularly the far-right, who view Israel as a model nation. This perspective, however, is a relic of Cold War ideology, equating Israel with the United States and viewing the latter as an unquestionable good.
The founding of Israel and the establishment of two divided states on the Korean Peninsula coincidentally took place in the same year, 1948.
Historically, even conservative figures in Korea, like Yun Chi-ho during the Japanese colonial era, drew parallels between Zionist settlement in Palestine and Japanese settlement in Korea, lamenting the transformation of a persecuted minority into an oppressor. This nuanced historical view is lost on today's far-right, who instead champion Israel's military prowess and its 'total mobilization' system, even holding up stories of reservists rushing to battle as exemplary. The admiration extends to aspects like the kibbutz, once even considered a model for Korea's Saemaul Undong movement.
The Korean far-right's peculiar view of Israel, often waving Israeli flags alongside American ones, seems less a tradition of Korean modernity and more an extreme remnant of Cold War international relations that views Israel as a proxy for the United States and America as absolute good.
However, we at the Hankyoreh urge a critical examination. Israel's celebrated high-tech sector, which contributes significantly to its GDP and exports, is deeply intertwined with its massive military-industrial complex. As a leading global arms exporter, Israel's weapons are 'proven' in conflicts, often against its neighbors. This reality, where economic prosperity is fueled by arms sales validated through brutal military actions, is a stark contrast to the aspirational image often projected.
The problem is, for 'what purpose' does this world-class high-tech complex exist?
Furthermore, Israel's founding ideology, prioritizing a 'Jewish state' over a state for all its residents, has led to perpetual conflict and a lack of genuine social integration, even with a significant Arab minority. This ethno-nationalist foundation, where the superiority of one group is legally enshrined, stifles political opposition and perpetuates a cycle of conflict. This is a path South Korea, facing its own demographic challenges and a burgeoning arms industry, must actively avoid. Our future lies not in mirroring Israel's model of conflict-driven growth and ethnic exclusivity, but in forging a path of inclusive social integration and sustainable development.
The atrocities condemned by President Lee Jae-myung are an unavoidable part of these invasions.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
